OpalescentGold: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.
Return
This is how he comes back.
Similarities
The very first time Noriko spots the transfer students, she knows her faint hopes were in vain.
If Tsuna and his Elements are the second-coming of the Primo and his Guardians, then these children are definitely the second-coming of Cozarto and his Famiglia.
Absently, she wonders if there's a possibly that everyone has been reincarnated, but she's just the only who retains her memories.
Differences
Cozarto and Giotto were depressingly good friends. Depressingly as in Cozarto was good enough friends with Giotto that he succeeded in convincing the blond that it was best to let Daemon go.
Cynthia has ever regretted letting that decision lie.
But she has never begrudged the two their friendship.
Now, Noriko watches the remnants of the Simon Famiglia, tastes their animosity in the air, and frowns.
Takeover
Suzuki Adelheid really does remind Noriko of Cozarto's Glacier. Well, the lovely noirette was far more mellow when Cynthia knew her, but that was after she had already had two children.
That passion though...that devotion...that has remained unchanged throughout all these long years.
Although, Noriko doubts Kyoya appreciates it at the moment.
Preoccupied as she remains with her thoughts, Noriko is nonetheless aware of Tsuna's concerned glances, Hayato's thoughtful frowns, Takeshi's innocuous invitations, Ryohei's extreme assurances, and Kyoya's suspicious eyes.
If it's possible, Reborn seems even more watchful than before.
Noriko can admit that her recent behavior has been a bit...off. Yet even the Moon needs to hide its light away for a little while. The New Moon doesn't last long, shouldn't last long.
She listens to her too-frantic heartbeat, winces at her pounding headache, and quietly excuses herself.
Unease
When Noriko first meets Katou Julie, she doesn't even know what's wrong. He looks like a regular, laid-back boy, if rather lazy and creepy.
Perhaps it's because she knows his Flame, Desert, is compatible with Mist. Perhaps it's because she knew his ancestor, knew how cunning and sly that man was.
Whatever it is, she is quietly, intensely uncomfortable the entire time he's around. His presence prickles at her senses, at her memory. There's something wrong, there's something oh-so-very wrong, what's wrong - ?!
Noriko hides in the shadows and tries not to panic.
Ceremony
The Ninth is pressuring Tsuna to go through the Inheritance Ceremony. But -
"I don't want to be a mafia boss, Nori-chan!" he wails into the phone.
"Then don't go," she advises simply, struggling to hold on to her patience. After all of this, he still hasn't found his backbone? What is wrong with him -
As soon as thethought passes through her mind, Noriko freezes. What is wrong with her? She's acting utterly out-of-character, and Kami-sama, when was the last time she lost her temper?
Much less lost her temper at her Sky?
Noriko presses a hand to her forehead, the cold against hot soothing. She struggles not to gasp for breath, struggles to keep her breathing slow and even. She just wants to sleep.
"Nori-chan? Are you okay?" Tsuna's voice seems to come from far away, too far away.
He sounds worried, and she gathers together the last vestiges of her control to pitch her voice cheerful and casual. "Tsuna, Kaa-chan's calling me. Let's talk later, okay?"
"...okay. Be safe, alright?"
"Alright."
Laugh
"My dear Noriko, you wouldn't happen to know the identity of our mysterious benefactor, would you?" Mukuro's sitting at her table again. This time, however, he's angry.
Not obviously, no, of course not. But she has practice, years and years of practice in reading unreadable Mists, and she can see the strain in his smirk, the fury that simmers behind his heterochromatic eyes.
Noriko frowns at him. "Mysterious benefactor?"
"Yes. Someone's been kind" - his smirk twists, becomes an ugly sneer - "enough to leave food for us recently."
A shiver runs down her back. Pressing her intertwined fingers to her lips, she says, "One of the transfer students."
Mukuro's eyes narrow. "The Simon?" His disdain is cutting. "They're weak."
"No. No, they aren't." She rises out of her seat and moves to stand by the window. The air seems thin all of a sudden. She refuses to acknowledge the weight of his stare on her back.
"Kufufufu, and why would you know that?"
"I - " Noriko stiffens and whirls around. Something falls into place. That one chess piece with the ability to change the sway of the game completely. "Do that again," she demands.
He looks openly startled for a moment before he plasters a mockingly inquisitive expression on his face. "Do what again, dear Nori-chan?"
She brushes aside the nickname, mind in chaos. No. No, it can't be, it can't be - "Laugh."
"Oya, oya, if you're such a big fan, you should have said so sooner - "
"Mukuro." Noriko stares at him, on the edge of desperation and on the brink of crying. "Please."
He blinks back at her. And forces a laugh.
Trip
"Kaa-chan, we're taking a field trip for the next two weeks, okay?"
"That sounds lovely, Nori-chan! Where to?"
"Oh, into some of the forests and mountains nearby. They're going to teach us how to survive in the wild."
"Are there going to be tents and fireplaces, that sort of thing?"
"Mmm, something like that, Tou-chan. We might even have marshmallows! Oh, but it's only my club, so Tsuna and the others aren't going to know. If they ask, just tell them I'm off visiting Aunt Miyako."
"Why not tell them the truth?"
"Kaa-chan! They might be jealous and get mad at me!"
"Hahaha, all right, Nori-chan."
"I'll be leaving tomorrow morning."